There Are Many Kinds of Engines and Here Are Some of Them

A car’s engine is so important it is already synonymous with the vehicle itself. This component, however, comes in different types. It is for this reason car owners should consider having auto mechanics take care of their car than doing the maintenance on their own.

Here are the different types of engines:

Configuration

This refers to the arrangement of the engine, particularly its cylinders. These are the parts of the engine responsible for converting gasoline into power by burning it.

One of the most popular types of engine is the V, which obtained its name from its shape. It is commonly associated with high-performance vehicles because of the amount of power it can generate.

Another configuration is inline, which means the cylinders are in a row. It may be easier to maintain than a V, and since it can accommodate odd-numbered cylinders, it is easier to use for fuel-efficient compact vehicles.

Combustion

Combustion refers to the process of burning material such as fuel. In industrial applications, there are two types — external and internal. All automobile engines use the latter. It means the burning process occurs within the cylinder.

As it burns the fuel, the temperature and pressure increase. It creates a force that activates the piston, which in turn causes the wheels to turn.

Fuel Used

Some of the most common types of fuel for engines are gas and diesel. A gas-powered engine has a spark plug while one that runs on diesel does not. Both create small combustions, but the manner in which they happen differs.

One of the biggest differences is in the use of air. With gas, it mixes with the fuel first before the piston compresses the combination. Then the spark plug ignites it. With diesel, the piston compresses the air first before the fuel is injected.

Over the past few years, though, more people in New Zealand are buying electric cars, which derive their power from batteries. A sub-option for this is the hybrid, which can shift to gasoline when necessary.

Engines may look simple, but they have several parts that need to work correctly. It is, therefore, best to let the experts tackle their issues to spare oneself from headache and hassle.